A/N: Happy Bank Holiday guys! Hope everyone is staying positive as things are easing, and everyone staying safe!
As always, I only own Iris and her interactions - everything familiar belongs to Shonda (as this follows the Netflix series).
Dearest reader, it is said that those who marry in haste must repent at leisure, a sentiment that is clearly shared by Miss Daphne Bridgerton, who has apparently rejected not one, not two, but three proposals already this week.
Some believe she is showing admirable forethought in her deliberations, but I would venture a different conjecture, that she, like this author, is still waiting in the only suitor of note, and all the while, Miss Edgehill decoratively fills the gardens of Bridgerton House, but seems to bloom radiantly in the company of a certain Viscount.
Iris sighed as she crumbled the gossip rag between her fingers. Daphne had ventured out to the tearooms with the Duke and her maid, Rose, in the days following the picnic, which had been a blur of days spent hiding in the pavilion for Iris, but had apparently been a few days of teas with the Queen for Lady Bridgerton, and then Lady Berbrooke visiting Bridgerton House.
Iris was glad to hear through the grapevine that Lord Berbrooke had fled the ton amidst rumours of scandal and that the debacle seemed to be over, but her heart still ached at the hurtful things he had said, and she still felt at a loss of what to do about it, short of marrying, which was preposterous, as she knew, the only man she would marry was in love with someone else!
Iris attended the ball that evening in a powder blue gown, the one she would have worn before the debacle with Lord Berbrooke. She had pretty, glittering stones woven into her hair and her opera length ivory gloves gleamed in the candlelight. All in all, Iris felt quite well about her appearance, but was dismayed to know that the object of her hidden affections had decided not to accompany Lady Bridgerton and Daphne to this event.
Spending a few moments to catch her breath, and prepare for the awkwardness due this evening, Iris had descended to join Lady Bridgerton and Daphne before they caught the carriage to their destination.
Exotic birds adorned cages across the floor of the stately home, while many candles twinkled, the smell of champagne stirred the air.
Iris walked with Daphne until she met with the Duke, and walked around the floor while she danced.
Lord Hardy approached her and bowed, and as she curtseyed, he immediately asked her to dance. Iris accepted and was soon whisked about the floor, the boastful Lord exaggerating his wealth and purchases the entire time. Iris remained silent, not out of necessity, but as she was not able to participate in the one-sided conversation.
Gratefully, her dance was over, and she stood beside the Duke while Daphne danced with Lord Weaver. "Your Grace," she greeted with a demure curtsey.
"Miss Edgehill," he responded with a regal bow of the head. The two discussed Daphne's partners, with barely concealed laughter, before the Duke offered her his hand. Iris glanced at it, then back up at the Duke.
"Might I have this dance, Miss Edgehill, safe in the knowledge that we are friends, and nothing more?" he asked jovially.
"With pleasure, your Grace," she responded before the two twirled about the floor. The Duke studied Iris, while they kept a civil conversation, noting her cheery spirit, but her eyes flickering to and fro, as though searching for someone.
"I believe Anthony, Lord Bridgerton, I mean, has chosen not to attend this evening?" he asked her. Iris wrinkled her nose, before schooling her features and shaking her head. "I believe he had a prior engagement at the opera, this evening," she explained. The duke nodded and narrowed his eyes. He twirled Iris expertly, before inhaling to begin conversation with the quiet woman before her, "and you are disappointed?" he questioned.
Iris sighed and refused to answer. She avoided his gaze as she collected herself, "My Lord Bridgerton does not answer to me, nor any other. He does as he pleases, and may join his family on whichever occasions he deems necessary," Iris finally looked up at the Duke, who raised an eyebrow and smiled at her slyly.
"I do not think you will need to worry about the Soprano for much longer, Miss Edgehill," he said, not unkindly, his grip tightening on her hand and waist marginally in an act of comfort. Iris shook her head at his words, "I am sure I know not what you mean, your Grace," she whispered, overly aware of anyone she perceived who could be watching for her, "the Viscount and I are merely Ward and Protector, there is no...no...agreement or understanding between us," she finished lamely.
Thankfully, the song ended and the duo broke apart to applaud the orchestra politely, before moving off the floor.
Iris took a moment after the dance to take a drink, when the Queen entered the room with the Prussian Prince.
Iris moved back to Daphne as Daphne explained Miss Cowper's attempts at snaring a match to the Duke.
"Now, she will look up at him, ever so quickly," she explained, "and then allow her fan to slowly sweep across her bosom, before casting her eyes upon the ground, for one is much too timid to ever meet His Royal Highness's piercing gaze, of course." Iris failed to cover her snigger with her hand as the Royal pair approached the whispering trio.
Daphne made mention of the Prince's expected motions as Iris smiled at her fondly, gently fingering the pendant at her throat. The Duke stepped away as the Queen approached and Daphne and Iris dipped into elegant curtseys. Iris met Miss Cowper's superior sneer across the room and narrowed her gaze.
Fine, if she thinks that I am a nobody, Iris groused internally, then I will show her!
"Prince Friedrich," the Queen declared, "this is the young Lady I told you about, the season's diamond," she gestured to Daphne, whom Prince immediately turned to and took her hand, placing a kiss to her gloved knuckles.
"So lovely to meet you, Miss Bridgerton," he stated, his accent curling his words exotically, "your gown, it is exquisite," he finished, as Daphne burst into uncontrollable giggles, and snorted.
Mortified, Iris curtseyed again, drawing the Prince's attention to her, "and who might you be?" he asked politely.
Iris remained in her curtsey, demure and elegant, and raised her gaze briefly to lock eyes with the Prince. Raising her chin, she spoke out in clear German, "Mein name ist Iris Edgehill, Ihre königliche Höheit," Iris stood, flashing a smug look at an astonished Miss Cowper over the Prince's shoulder.
"Ah, you speak German!" the Prince declared in his native tongue. Iris smiled and nodded, "I speak many languages, your Highness," she responded sweetly.
Daphne apologised profusely for her behaviour before she moved to dance with the Duke.
Iris moved back to sit with Lady Bridgerton, who smiled at her warmly. "I see your studying of languages has indeed paid off, Iris!" she praised. Iris smiled shyly and shook her head.
"Please, Lady Bridgerton, I have no want or intent to pursue a Prince," she declared, holding her hands up, "I was merely proving a point to Miss Cowper," she explained.
Lady Bridgerton moved to speak but Lady Danbury beat her to it, "and what point would that be, my dear?"
Iris squinted over at the famously clever woman and conceded there would be no avoiding the matter, "that neither Daphne, nor I for that matter, are below her and whatever her opinions may be."
Lady Danbury nodded, a proud look gracing her features, Iris stood, curtseyed and moved from the room.
The following morning, Iris was rudely awoken by Daphne, clambering into her bed with her. Groaning in a fashion Lady Bridgerton would label as wholly unladylike, Iris rolled to see her companion and fellow debutant pouting as she snuggled under the covers with her.
"What ails you so early, Daphne?" Iris asked sleepily, her hazel eyes searching for the answer in Daphne's face. "Everyone has fallen for the ruse beautifully, Iris, but I believe that I maybe did not heed your advice as I should have..." Daphne murmured, closing her eyes as though to defend from an unforeseen pain.
Iris urged her to continue. Daphne drew a stoic breath before exhaling quietly, "I believe I may be developing feelings for the Duke..."